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The Lost Girl in Paris
'I will never forget what the Nazi did to me. Never'
1940, Nazi-occupied Paris. A powerful story of love, tragedy and incredible courage, about one woman whose life is ripped apart by war and risks everything to seek justice. Brand new from the bestselling author of The Resistance Girl.
As Nazis patrol the streets of the French capital, Tiena is alone, desperate and on the run. After defending herself against the force of an officer, she must find a new identity in order to survive.
An accidental meeting with members of the Resistance gives her a lifeline, as she is offered the chance to reinvent herself as perfumer Angéline De Cadieux.
However Angéline will never forget what happened to her, and will do everything she can to seek revenge. But vengeance can be a dangerous game, and Angeline can only hide her true identity for so long before her past catches up with her, with some devastating consequences...
Paris, 2003. When the opportunity arises for aspiring journalist Emma Keane to interview world renowned perfumer Madame De Cadieux about her life during World War Two, she is determined to take it. There are secrets from her own family history that she hopes Angéline may be able to help unlock.
But nothing can prepare Emma for Angéline's story, and one thing is for certain - it will change her own life forever…
An absolutely heartbreaking, unforgettable historical novel of war, sacrifice and survival. Perfect for fans of Suzanne Goldring, Ella Carey and Catherine Hokin.
1940, Nazi-occupied Paris. A powerful story of love, tragedy and incredible courage, about one woman whose life is ripped apart by war and risks everything to seek justice. Brand new from the bestselling author of The Resistance Girl.
As Nazis patrol the streets of the French capital, Tiena is alone, desperate and on the run. After defending herself against the force of an officer, she must find a new identity in order to survive.
An accidental meeting with members of the Resistance gives her a lifeline, as she is offered the chance to reinvent herself as perfumer Angéline De Cadieux.
However Angéline will never forget what happened to her, and will do everything she can to seek revenge. But vengeance can be a dangerous game, and Angeline can only hide her true identity for so long before her past catches up with her, with some devastating consequences...
Paris, 2003. When the opportunity arises for aspiring journalist Emma Keane to interview world renowned perfumer Madame De Cadieux about her life during World War Two, she is determined to take it. There are secrets from her own family history that she hopes Angéline may be able to help unlock.
But nothing can prepare Emma for Angéline's story, and one thing is for certain - it will change her own life forever…
An absolutely heartbreaking, unforgettable historical novel of war, sacrifice and survival. Perfect for fans of Suzanne Goldring, Ella Carey and Catherine Hokin.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2021
About the author
Jina Bacarr
57 books139 followersJina loves dark chocolate truffles and rainy days in museums...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
November 20, 2021
Jina Bacarr knows we already understand that war is hell, so, instead, she takes us on a five-star, historical adventure to discover what war smells like. Yes, you read that correctly. You’re probably imagining acrid smoke and the stench of death, right? What about the scent of a red rose or white gardenia blowing in the breeze? Not what you were imagining? Bacarr writes to remind us that “they co-exist, even in war.”
To carry her message, she crafts a narrative featuring a young French woman, a “nose,” who created a beautiful perfume that gave women courage during the war. Ironically, she’s sent to a concentration camp where she’s forced to endure the foulest smells while testing her own courage.
What sets this account apart, is that Bacarr chose to focus on Roma rather than Jewish prisoners. The story of the Romani people and their Holocaust experience is eye-opening! You’ll read about a gypsy girl on the run from the Nazis who has to change her identity to survive. A chance comes on the streets of Paris and she grabs the opportunity to join the resistance and become a perfumer. Told in dual timeline by a journalist in 2003, this book will keep you riveted and flipping pages. For those leery of reading a ‘concentration camp book,’ I’d encourage you to pick this one up as 90% of this book leads up to the days spent in imprisonment and it’s such a fantastically written, ‘meaty’ book that will hold your interest and capture your heart. If I told you that this will take second place in my 2021 reads, would it convince you?
“The art of perfume parallels life. The top note is the present….fleeting. The heart note is the past….your memories enriching your soul. And the base note is the future…ever enduring.”
Publishes November 30, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Jina Bacarr, Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
To carry her message, she crafts a narrative featuring a young French woman, a “nose,” who created a beautiful perfume that gave women courage during the war. Ironically, she’s sent to a concentration camp where she’s forced to endure the foulest smells while testing her own courage.
What sets this account apart, is that Bacarr chose to focus on Roma rather than Jewish prisoners. The story of the Romani people and their Holocaust experience is eye-opening! You’ll read about a gypsy girl on the run from the Nazis who has to change her identity to survive. A chance comes on the streets of Paris and she grabs the opportunity to join the resistance and become a perfumer. Told in dual timeline by a journalist in 2003, this book will keep you riveted and flipping pages. For those leery of reading a ‘concentration camp book,’ I’d encourage you to pick this one up as 90% of this book leads up to the days spent in imprisonment and it’s such a fantastically written, ‘meaty’ book that will hold your interest and capture your heart. If I told you that this will take second place in my 2021 reads, would it convince you?
“The art of perfume parallels life. The top note is the present….fleeting. The heart note is the past….your memories enriching your soul. And the base note is the future…ever enduring.”
Publishes November 30, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Jina Bacarr, Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 22, 2024
I struggled to engage with this story because it felt too similar to other World War Two/Resistance novels I have read in the past. Whilst Bacarr explores the Roma treatment by the Nazis, I did not get a sense of this being too unique to other books of this genre. It was only the final quarter that truly engaged me.
The novel slips between present day and Angéline’s story during the Nazi occupation. After the tragic death of her mother, Angéline is on the run, fearful she will be identified by the Nazi soldier she defied. Fleeing to Paris, she becomes part of the Resistance movement; her actions are disguised by Angéline’s work in a perfume house, helping to concoct new scents whilst keeping an ear to the ground. She plays the role of a “nose” because of her ability to identify the different scents within a perfume, using this skill to help develop new products that could provide hope for fellow Parisiennes. To be honest, I was not too interested in this element of the story; the perfumery and its influence in Paris was interesting but it never captured my imagination.
In present day, Emma is interviewing Angéline and readers discover that Emma might have a connection to this Madame. Emma learns about Angéline’s actions and how she was eventually sent to the concentration camps. I found this section of the story to be most vivid and provocative. It certainly reinforced how much research the author has carried out in this period and I was fascinated to understand how Angéline survives, especially when she learns that she is with child.
There were times when I found the present day narrative to be more interesting, particularly concerning the journalist who is trying to usurp Emma from her story. Furthermore, Emma’s background plays a significant role in the story and I think I would have liked to see this developed, especially Emma’s growing relationship with Angéline’s security. However, considering this is a historical book, it is not surprising that most of the action takes place in the 1940s.
This was an increasingly heart-aching story with the theme of mother-daughter relationships throughout. Despite her mother’s death, Angéline continues to sense her mother’s spirit with her at all times. This is then reflected in Emma’s long-distance relationship with her ever-increasingly ill mother. I enjoyed this cyclical aspect of the story, especially when family members are finally reunited.
An interesting read, whilst I did not enjoy it as much as a previous book from this author, it was still absorbing to see how even gypsies were treated so appalling in the Second World War. I feel like I have learnt more about this time period and the strength that Angéline’s character displays over time is admirable.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The novel slips between present day and Angéline’s story during the Nazi occupation. After the tragic death of her mother, Angéline is on the run, fearful she will be identified by the Nazi soldier she defied. Fleeing to Paris, she becomes part of the Resistance movement; her actions are disguised by Angéline’s work in a perfume house, helping to concoct new scents whilst keeping an ear to the ground. She plays the role of a “nose” because of her ability to identify the different scents within a perfume, using this skill to help develop new products that could provide hope for fellow Parisiennes. To be honest, I was not too interested in this element of the story; the perfumery and its influence in Paris was interesting but it never captured my imagination.
In present day, Emma is interviewing Angéline and readers discover that Emma might have a connection to this Madame. Emma learns about Angéline’s actions and how she was eventually sent to the concentration camps. I found this section of the story to be most vivid and provocative. It certainly reinforced how much research the author has carried out in this period and I was fascinated to understand how Angéline survives, especially when she learns that she is with child.
There were times when I found the present day narrative to be more interesting, particularly concerning the journalist who is trying to usurp Emma from her story. Furthermore, Emma’s background plays a significant role in the story and I think I would have liked to see this developed, especially Emma’s growing relationship with Angéline’s security. However, considering this is a historical book, it is not surprising that most of the action takes place in the 1940s.
This was an increasingly heart-aching story with the theme of mother-daughter relationships throughout. Despite her mother’s death, Angéline continues to sense her mother’s spirit with her at all times. This is then reflected in Emma’s long-distance relationship with her ever-increasingly ill mother. I enjoyed this cyclical aspect of the story, especially when family members are finally reunited.
An interesting read, whilst I did not enjoy it as much as a previous book from this author, it was still absorbing to see how even gypsies were treated so appalling in the Second World War. I feel like I have learnt more about this time period and the strength that Angéline’s character displays over time is admirable.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2024
*Heartbreaking*
This book really pulled me through the wringer of emotions. It is told from two points of view.
Anjéline De Cadieux is in her 80’s in the present she is a renowned perfumer and we hear a little about her back story. It is mainly set in the 1940’s when the Nazi’s occupied Paris.
In 2003 we meet Emma Keane, she is a journalist who wants to interview Anjéline. This may be her trickiest interview yet. Anjéline has always been tight lipped about her past and Emma is very keen to find out all about her, why?
Emma approaches Anjéline and boldly asks for an interview. When Anjéline asks her to accompany her on a plane to Paris, Emma knows that is her chance.
Once she squares it with her boss Emma is on her way.
At this point we know some of the story but although we are familiar with the 1940’s atrocities, Anjéline’s heartbreaking journey that she lived through brought me to tears. Although Anjéline opens up to Emma she senses that there is something that Emma is not revealing. One staff member in particular is unsure of her. Anjéline has a background check done as she has been stung by journalists in the past. What will it reveal?
Emma does not have a lot of time to find out what she needs for heartbreaking reasons of her own.
As things were being revealed it was like my heart was being ripped out of my chest as it is written in such a way that it drew me in. The ending was satisfying and although a lot of the story was dark there were some light moments too.
This is a 5 star read for me because of the emotions it stirred up inside of me.
This book really pulled me through the wringer of emotions. It is told from two points of view.
Anjéline De Cadieux is in her 80’s in the present she is a renowned perfumer and we hear a little about her back story. It is mainly set in the 1940’s when the Nazi’s occupied Paris.
In 2003 we meet Emma Keane, she is a journalist who wants to interview Anjéline. This may be her trickiest interview yet. Anjéline has always been tight lipped about her past and Emma is very keen to find out all about her, why?
Emma approaches Anjéline and boldly asks for an interview. When Anjéline asks her to accompany her on a plane to Paris, Emma knows that is her chance.
Once she squares it with her boss Emma is on her way.
At this point we know some of the story but although we are familiar with the 1940’s atrocities, Anjéline’s heartbreaking journey that she lived through brought me to tears. Although Anjéline opens up to Emma she senses that there is something that Emma is not revealing. One staff member in particular is unsure of her. Anjéline has a background check done as she has been stung by journalists in the past. What will it reveal?
Emma does not have a lot of time to find out what she needs for heartbreaking reasons of her own.
As things were being revealed it was like my heart was being ripped out of my chest as it is written in such a way that it drew me in. The ending was satisfying and although a lot of the story was dark there were some light moments too.
This is a 5 star read for me because of the emotions it stirred up inside of me.
October 28, 2022
One of these very good, heart-moving, stories with a good ending even though we enter concentration camps and read about a number of horrendous crimes against humanity.
The adventure is also lived through the nose of a perfumer, a wonderful Romany woman, which gives the tale its special note.
The adventure is also lived through the nose of a perfumer, a wonderful Romany woman, which gives the tale its special note.
March 17, 2024
The book I’m reading is called “The lost girl in Paris by Jina Barr. She wrote this book to pay a tribute to the strong women who survived the Holocaust. I must say this book is a powerful story of love, tragedy, and incredible courage, about one woman whose life is ripped apart by war and risk’s everything to seek justice. I already knew that the Romani were treated as badly as the Jewish people, and this just highlighted how much the Nazi regime affected an enormous number of people during the time they were in power. 220,000 to half million Romani people died at the hands of the Nazis. A historical fiction story that is told over a dual timeline during the Second World War. It is the story of one woman who survived Auschwitz and Dachau, Tiena/ Angeline, a seventeen year old girl who ran away to Paris to become a perfumer after losing her mother to the Nazis.
October 23, 2021
Wow! This will stay with me for a while!
This deserves more than 5 stars....The Lost Girl in Paris was brilliant! I enjoyed every word and I found myself engrossed in the story.
I know it is historical fiction but at the end of the book you can read about how much research went into writing this book.
Tiena Cordova is a Roma, gypsy, who is running from the Nazis in 1940 because she accosted a high ranking member of the German army. She is in the Nazi occupied city of Paris, France.
Knowing that she has to hide she runs to a familiar place that she visited with her father....but everything has changed. It's no longer the place she remembers....she stumbles upon a secret meeting of what later she finds out is the Resistance.
They in turn discover Tiena and decide to help her with a new identity and disguise. Her life is never the same from here on out...she has to be careful around the Nazis.
New York 2003, Emma is a journalist who needs answers from WWII, she decides to ask a woman for an interview. The woman a perfumier, Angéline De Cadieux, who doesn't give interviews of her life but she feels akin to Emma for some reason. She grants the interview but there is one catch Emma has to go to Paris for the interview. They board the Concord and off they go...
Now I'm not one to give spoilers, I hate when someone else does that, so you can read the synopsis of the book once one is written for Goodreads.
I devoured this book which was romantic and heartbreaking. I cried so much for Madam De Cadieux even though she is fictional. The characters were easy to relate to and the story was flawless...engrossing and brilliant.
Emma has several reasons for the interview and once Madam De Cadieux starts to tell her story Emma in engrossed. Angéline De Cadieux remembers everything that happened to her and she doesn't hold back from Emma who has to take leave a few times because she is overwhelmed by what happened to Madam.
I could actually see where the story was going but we don't learn the truth until the last few chapters...
Like I said this deserves more than a 5 star rating....highly recommend!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Publishing for allowing me to read a digital ARC of The Lost Girl in Paris for an honest review. This is my honest opinion these are my own words. I'm not an eloquent reviewer but I review from the heart! This is my first book by Jina Bacarr and it won't be my last.
This deserves more than 5 stars....The Lost Girl in Paris was brilliant! I enjoyed every word and I found myself engrossed in the story.
I know it is historical fiction but at the end of the book you can read about how much research went into writing this book.
Tiena Cordova is a Roma, gypsy, who is running from the Nazis in 1940 because she accosted a high ranking member of the German army. She is in the Nazi occupied city of Paris, France.
Knowing that she has to hide she runs to a familiar place that she visited with her father....but everything has changed. It's no longer the place she remembers....she stumbles upon a secret meeting of what later she finds out is the Resistance.
They in turn discover Tiena and decide to help her with a new identity and disguise. Her life is never the same from here on out...she has to be careful around the Nazis.
New York 2003, Emma is a journalist who needs answers from WWII, she decides to ask a woman for an interview. The woman a perfumier, Angéline De Cadieux, who doesn't give interviews of her life but she feels akin to Emma for some reason. She grants the interview but there is one catch Emma has to go to Paris for the interview. They board the Concord and off they go...
Now I'm not one to give spoilers, I hate when someone else does that, so you can read the synopsis of the book once one is written for Goodreads.
I devoured this book which was romantic and heartbreaking. I cried so much for Madam De Cadieux even though she is fictional. The characters were easy to relate to and the story was flawless...engrossing and brilliant.
Emma has several reasons for the interview and once Madam De Cadieux starts to tell her story Emma in engrossed. Angéline De Cadieux remembers everything that happened to her and she doesn't hold back from Emma who has to take leave a few times because she is overwhelmed by what happened to Madam.
I could actually see where the story was going but we don't learn the truth until the last few chapters...
Like I said this deserves more than a 5 star rating....highly recommend!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Publishing for allowing me to read a digital ARC of The Lost Girl in Paris for an honest review. This is my honest opinion these are my own words. I'm not an eloquent reviewer but I review from the heart! This is my first book by Jina Bacarr and it won't be my last.
December 6, 2021
This was not a book I could rush through in just a couple of days, this was a book to read and feel in order to do the story justice. Wow, what a story! I literally sat with tears rolling down my cheeks several times and yet, I still found parts really heartwarming.
If you have enjoyed reading other historical fiction taking place during WWII like The Winemaker’s Wife or The Book of Lost Names, then you simply must read this emotional and brilliantly written story. It will pull at your heartstrings and stay with you long after you have finished it. I feel like I have really been on a journey while reading this book, as if I really travelled to different places and saw, smelt and felt so many different things!
If you have enjoyed reading other historical fiction taking place during WWII like The Winemaker’s Wife or The Book of Lost Names, then you simply must read this emotional and brilliantly written story. It will pull at your heartstrings and stay with you long after you have finished it. I feel like I have really been on a journey while reading this book, as if I really travelled to different places and saw, smelt and felt so many different things!
January 11, 2024
Found it very moving.
July 11, 2024
I listened to this one, and I didn’t care for the reader. The story was very slow as well.
December 10, 2021
The book alternates between two timelines. The first, set in 2003, features ambitious journalist Emma Keane who manages to gain the agreement of famous parfumier Angéline De Cadieux to tell the story of her life and wartime experiences, a story Angéline has carefully guarded up to that point. As well as promising to be a career-enhancing scoop, Emma has reasons of her own for wanting to delve into the secrets of Angéline’s past and the secrets of the parfumier’s art.
In the second timeline, set in wartime France, the reader learns about the traumatic events Angéline experienced as a young woman, experiences that put her in fear of capture by the Nazis – and by one Nazi in particular – and that resulted in her transformation from Tiena Cordova to Angéline de Cadieux. We also learn about her time working as a parfumier and as a member of the nascent French Resistance, risking discovery at any moment. As Angéline’s subsequent experiences show, the consequences of discovery are degradation, inhuman treatment and almost certain death.
I wasn’t completely won over by the dual timeline structure in which Angéline’s reminiscences are sometimes related to Emma and at other times direct to the reader in chapters contemporaneous with the events being described. I preferred the style of writing in the latter and I was always glad to immerse myself again in Angeline’s story. However, I appreciate the book’s structure enabled the author to draw interesting parallels between the two women. One thing the two women share is the presence of two handsome men in their lives. For Angéline this is a much-lamented past love whilst for Emma it is an enticing future prospect (although in true Pride & Prejudice style initially she intensely dislikes the man in question). Eventually the two women’s stories come together by which time the bond between them has grown deeper.
Although many of us will know about the persecution of Jewish people by the Nazis, the plight of the Roma people under the regime is probably less well-known, although what they suffered was equally horrific. Angéline’s first-hand experience of this, although difficult to read at times, was the most compelling part of the book for me, showing the courage of those who endured the worst that human beings can do to one another. As Emma observes at one point, it’s a story that needs to be told.
In the second timeline, set in wartime France, the reader learns about the traumatic events Angéline experienced as a young woman, experiences that put her in fear of capture by the Nazis – and by one Nazi in particular – and that resulted in her transformation from Tiena Cordova to Angéline de Cadieux. We also learn about her time working as a parfumier and as a member of the nascent French Resistance, risking discovery at any moment. As Angéline’s subsequent experiences show, the consequences of discovery are degradation, inhuman treatment and almost certain death.
I wasn’t completely won over by the dual timeline structure in which Angéline’s reminiscences are sometimes related to Emma and at other times direct to the reader in chapters contemporaneous with the events being described. I preferred the style of writing in the latter and I was always glad to immerse myself again in Angeline’s story. However, I appreciate the book’s structure enabled the author to draw interesting parallels between the two women. One thing the two women share is the presence of two handsome men in their lives. For Angéline this is a much-lamented past love whilst for Emma it is an enticing future prospect (although in true Pride & Prejudice style initially she intensely dislikes the man in question). Eventually the two women’s stories come together by which time the bond between them has grown deeper.
Although many of us will know about the persecution of Jewish people by the Nazis, the plight of the Roma people under the regime is probably less well-known, although what they suffered was equally horrific. Angéline’s first-hand experience of this, although difficult to read at times, was the most compelling part of the book for me, showing the courage of those who endured the worst that human beings can do to one another. As Emma observes at one point, it’s a story that needs to be told.
November 28, 2021
The Scent of Danger
In 1940 Nazi occupied Paris, a Roma girl running for her life from both the Nazi's and her evil stepfather, a group of resistance fighters in Paris and an ambitious American reporter all blend together in a story of danger, evil, romance, family and new beginnings.
Entering into the intriguing world of the perfumer and the perfume industry, the story follows from a Roma girl from an nearby Gypsy camp running from a Nazi general to the famous Angelina Cadieux world famous perfumer.
Hiding in plain sight, working among the Nazi's and assisting the resistance Tiena Cordova becomes another person until she once again comes face to face with her greatest enemy and her secret is revealed.
In Paris 2003, an ambitious American reporter Emma Keane has the opportunity to interview the famous perfumer Angelina Cadieus about her years during WWII . She eagerly accepts the assignment not knowing that what she learns will change her life
.
A story of heartbreak during the war, a secret held close to the heart and a young woman that releases that secret so the holder can find peace. The horrific war years spelled out in all the evil unleashed by the Nazi's on the world , the Roma's, the Jewish, and anyone that disfavors them.
I was much interested in the history of how the Roma's were treated by the Nazi's and the Dachau sub camps of which I had never hear before. I knew the Nazi's persecuted the Jewish and put them in camps, I was not aware that they treated the Roma's in the same way, even to the point of a special spot just for them in the camp.
It was a very interesting and sad book, but uplifting in many spots. I loved how the smell of the La Courage perfume inspired so many women in the story.
It was a good read and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Jina Bacarr for writing a great story , to Boldwood books for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
In 1940 Nazi occupied Paris, a Roma girl running for her life from both the Nazi's and her evil stepfather, a group of resistance fighters in Paris and an ambitious American reporter all blend together in a story of danger, evil, romance, family and new beginnings.
Entering into the intriguing world of the perfumer and the perfume industry, the story follows from a Roma girl from an nearby Gypsy camp running from a Nazi general to the famous Angelina Cadieux world famous perfumer.
Hiding in plain sight, working among the Nazi's and assisting the resistance Tiena Cordova becomes another person until she once again comes face to face with her greatest enemy and her secret is revealed.
In Paris 2003, an ambitious American reporter Emma Keane has the opportunity to interview the famous perfumer Angelina Cadieus about her years during WWII . She eagerly accepts the assignment not knowing that what she learns will change her life
.
A story of heartbreak during the war, a secret held close to the heart and a young woman that releases that secret so the holder can find peace. The horrific war years spelled out in all the evil unleashed by the Nazi's on the world , the Roma's, the Jewish, and anyone that disfavors them.
I was much interested in the history of how the Roma's were treated by the Nazi's and the Dachau sub camps of which I had never hear before. I knew the Nazi's persecuted the Jewish and put them in camps, I was not aware that they treated the Roma's in the same way, even to the point of a special spot just for them in the camp.
It was a very interesting and sad book, but uplifting in many spots. I loved how the smell of the La Courage perfume inspired so many women in the story.
It was a good read and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Jina Bacarr for writing a great story , to Boldwood books for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
October 23, 2022
Emma gets an opportunity of a lifetime - a personal invitation, by Madame De Cadieux to join her on the return trip back to Paris in the exchange for an exclusive interview.
It was Angéline's dream one day to write the true story of her early life and her involvement in the resistance. The connection she feels with a young journalist gives her an opportunity to fulfill her dream.
But when the women sit down and begin their work, they uncover a very unique secret.
I love reading about the resistance, and the lives of the concentration camp survivors. If Emma was a real character - I would love to be her friend. Now, back to the novel. Great idea for the book, but a dull plot. I could tell from the very first pages that the two heroines are related. There was no secret it in. Tiena's story was heartbreaking, and I do not think she fulfilled her revenge in the end. The scene that led to Angéline's arrest was simply absurd. She gave up her mother's bracelet, but could not give her friend's coat away. Where's the logic?
Am I regretting the time spent on this novel - not really. It could be better, but it is still a beautiful, light, heartwarming read. I would recommend this book to readers that begin to learn of the Nazi-occupied Paris.
It was Angéline's dream one day to write the true story of her early life and her involvement in the resistance. The connection she feels with a young journalist gives her an opportunity to fulfill her dream.
But when the women sit down and begin their work, they uncover a very unique secret.
I love reading about the resistance, and the lives of the concentration camp survivors. If Emma was a real character - I would love to be her friend. Now, back to the novel. Great idea for the book, but a dull plot. I could tell from the very first pages that the two heroines are related. There was no secret it in. Tiena's story was heartbreaking, and I do not think she fulfilled her revenge in the end. The scene that led to Angéline's arrest was simply absurd. She gave up her mother's bracelet, but could not give her friend's coat away. Where's the logic?
Am I regretting the time spent on this novel - not really. It could be better, but it is still a beautiful, light, heartwarming read. I would recommend this book to readers that begin to learn of the Nazi-occupied Paris.
December 4, 2021
My, oh my! What a book!!
Split between 1940’s Paris and New York in 2003, this tells the powerful story of how two women are so far apart, yet their lives are intricately woven together.
I love how the story split between Tiena’s story in WW2 to Emma’s in 2003, both women’s pasts and present entwine beautifully with the others, the secrets which have been hidden for so long are hard to hear when they do come to light, secrets which have and will change both women’s lives. I really enjoyed how each woman is connected and watching them discover the truth, the writing is exceptionally good, I was hooked it’s the kind of book which compels you to keep reading.
1940’s Paris, follows the story of a young Roma girl called Tiena who must flee after the Nazi’s roll in, after an altercation with an officer she knows she will never be safe as herself so with the help of the resistance she reinvents herself as Angelina Cadiex, the famous perfumer, a move which will change her life in its entirety forever.
2003, New York journalist Emma has a question, there is something she is seeking from the past, from WW2 when she gets the opportunity to interview the world-famous perfumer Madame De Cadieux, a woman who never does interviews, a woman who never speaks about the past but something about Emma makes her say yes if the young woman flies over to Paris.
As Angeline tells her story to both Emma and us the readers there is a crackle of suspense and heartbreak which hangs in the air with every word, what happened to her and what she experienced is dramatic, engrossing and shocking. Once Emma starts hearing what Angeline has to say you can easily see where the story is heading, but the secrets and the truths aren’t revealed until pretty late on in the book which will keep you reading wondering if your assumptions of what is going to happen are right or not.
There are parts of the story which are hard to read, especially on how the Roma’s were treated by the Nazi’s, everyone knows of the atrocities and unspeakable horror of what happened to the Jewish but people tend to either forget or genuinely don’t realise that others were persecuted by the Nazi’s too such as the Roma. It’s not an easy book at times, it’s heartbreaking, shocking and hugely emotional but it tells us a story that needs to be shared with the world.
The Lost Girls of Paris explores some series and sensitive issues which are told in a relatable, compassionate and knowledgable way. It’s completely gripping, it’s a story of love, regrets, secrets, harsh realities, vengeance and survival. It is a beautifully written, heartbreaking, emotional, sensitive and compelling story of family secrets and the fight for survival. I cannot recommend this enough, it’s unforgettable and leaves a mark on the soul.
Split between 1940’s Paris and New York in 2003, this tells the powerful story of how two women are so far apart, yet their lives are intricately woven together.
I love how the story split between Tiena’s story in WW2 to Emma’s in 2003, both women’s pasts and present entwine beautifully with the others, the secrets which have been hidden for so long are hard to hear when they do come to light, secrets which have and will change both women’s lives. I really enjoyed how each woman is connected and watching them discover the truth, the writing is exceptionally good, I was hooked it’s the kind of book which compels you to keep reading.
1940’s Paris, follows the story of a young Roma girl called Tiena who must flee after the Nazi’s roll in, after an altercation with an officer she knows she will never be safe as herself so with the help of the resistance she reinvents herself as Angelina Cadiex, the famous perfumer, a move which will change her life in its entirety forever.
2003, New York journalist Emma has a question, there is something she is seeking from the past, from WW2 when she gets the opportunity to interview the world-famous perfumer Madame De Cadieux, a woman who never does interviews, a woman who never speaks about the past but something about Emma makes her say yes if the young woman flies over to Paris.
As Angeline tells her story to both Emma and us the readers there is a crackle of suspense and heartbreak which hangs in the air with every word, what happened to her and what she experienced is dramatic, engrossing and shocking. Once Emma starts hearing what Angeline has to say you can easily see where the story is heading, but the secrets and the truths aren’t revealed until pretty late on in the book which will keep you reading wondering if your assumptions of what is going to happen are right or not.
There are parts of the story which are hard to read, especially on how the Roma’s were treated by the Nazi’s, everyone knows of the atrocities and unspeakable horror of what happened to the Jewish but people tend to either forget or genuinely don’t realise that others were persecuted by the Nazi’s too such as the Roma. It’s not an easy book at times, it’s heartbreaking, shocking and hugely emotional but it tells us a story that needs to be shared with the world.
The Lost Girls of Paris explores some series and sensitive issues which are told in a relatable, compassionate and knowledgable way. It’s completely gripping, it’s a story of love, regrets, secrets, harsh realities, vengeance and survival. It is a beautifully written, heartbreaking, emotional, sensitive and compelling story of family secrets and the fight for survival. I cannot recommend this enough, it’s unforgettable and leaves a mark on the soul.
November 24, 2021
I love it when WWII books show a different aspect of the war. And I hadn't read a book before where the main character was Roma so that part was very interesting and heartbreaking..
What bothered me in this book was the writing style. I don't mind a dual time book, but when it switches constantly it makes it hard to get into a story, because I got pulled out of the tragic story and then had to read about Emma infatuation with Ryder. I would have given this book 4 stars if the story had a better flow.
What bothered me in this book was the writing style. I don't mind a dual time book, but when it switches constantly it makes it hard to get into a story, because I got pulled out of the tragic story and then had to read about Emma infatuation with Ryder. I would have given this book 4 stars if the story had a better flow.
March 13, 2022
c’est bon
Even though you know very quickly the relationships between the main protagonists this book transports you back to Paris in WW2 and creates such a fantastic story you won’t want to put down
Even though you know very quickly the relationships between the main protagonists this book transports you back to Paris in WW2 and creates such a fantastic story you won’t want to put down
March 27, 2023
A well written and engaging book that told the story of war time in France from a Romani perspective. It was a fast read as it was hard to put down.
August 1, 2024
This was the first book I read about this author. Such a fantastic read
August 11, 2024
This story is sure to delight those who enjoy historical fiction literature. This amazing tale of a Roma girl's WWII battle and the enduring wounds is told. Even though I was eager to return to the past, this book was so masterfully written and handled two timelines so effectively. It contains everything that lovers of this era would want. Be sure to add this book to your TBR list.
March 26, 2022
Wow, an amazing story!
When an American journalist Emma seeks an interview with renowned French perfumier Madame Angeline de Cadieux, she has no idea where it will lead, but she also feels a certain connection with the elderly lady.
The reader is transported back to WWII Paris, to the world of perfume and the atrocities of war.
This brilliantly written story brought tears to my eyes several times; however, the writer has also included romance and a subtle sense of humour.
I enjoyed every page of this book and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
When an American journalist Emma seeks an interview with renowned French perfumier Madame Angeline de Cadieux, she has no idea where it will lead, but she also feels a certain connection with the elderly lady.
The reader is transported back to WWII Paris, to the world of perfume and the atrocities of war.
This brilliantly written story brought tears to my eyes several times; however, the writer has also included romance and a subtle sense of humour.
I enjoyed every page of this book and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
May 5, 2023
A wonderful read. I would give it a 6!
April 24, 2022
Dual timeline WWII novel. Present day timeline describes an interview by a journalist of a woman famous for her perfume fragrances, who was a Romani gypsy who became a French Resistance fighter, was caught, but concentration camps. I enjoyed the storyline. It was interesting to read about gypsies during this time period, something I was not aware of. I also liked her feistiness, which helped her survive on many occasions, but also possibly led to her capture. The connection between her and the journalist was easy to surmise right from the beginning. I would have preferred that to be more vague until the end. I also think the descriptions of Emma’s attraction to the bodyguard read more like a Harlequin novel, and seemed out of place in this story.
June 12, 2022
This One You Can’t Put Down!
I’m a fan of historical fiction…I have to say, this was amazing! I couldn’t stop reading it. Sooooo good! Nina Bacar did her research and does an excellent job of putting the reader in this place and time.
I’m a fan of historical fiction…I have to say, this was amazing! I couldn’t stop reading it. Sooooo good! Nina Bacar did her research and does an excellent job of putting the reader in this place and time.
January 1, 2022
Emma Keane knows there a story to be told about the survival of the famous French perfumer, Angeline De Cadieux. As a reporter, she’s determined to get the goods on how this courageous woman survived the concentration camps of WWII and created a perfume empire. Emma has another reason for pursuing an interview with Angeline. She believes that this woman spent time in a camp with her biological grandmother and as a last gift to her dying mother, Emma wants the truth. Both of these women a “noses”…they can decipher scents mixed in perfume, smell the rain coming and the musky scent of the Forrest. Set in dual timelines, as Angeline tells her story…she and Emma discover they have more in common than just being noses.
What drew me to this story initially was the fact that Angeline was born a Roma gypsy and I knew very little about their side of the WWII story so I was grateful for the insight. What kept me turning each page was the attention to detail and the anticipation of what comes next. This was a wonderful story to end the year with and there are parts of it that will stick around in my mind for quite awhile. As always, please read the authors notes. The research that goes into stories like these is just as intriguing as the story itself.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Jina Bacarr for access to this great story of survival, courage and hope!
What drew me to this story initially was the fact that Angeline was born a Roma gypsy and I knew very little about their side of the WWII story so I was grateful for the insight. What kept me turning each page was the attention to detail and the anticipation of what comes next. This was a wonderful story to end the year with and there are parts of it that will stick around in my mind for quite awhile. As always, please read the authors notes. The research that goes into stories like these is just as intriguing as the story itself.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Jina Bacarr for access to this great story of survival, courage and hope!
October 2, 2022
I just finished this book. And it’s going to take me a while to recover from it. Such an emotional and impactful reading.
I’m not really good at writing reviews so I won’t even try. But this book is very well written and about an important subject. I really recommend it.
Also, if you have Amazon Prime you can borrow this for free via Prime Reading. (Please do this instead of the reading and returning some people do on Kindle. The Kindle ‘borrowing’ costs the author money whereas the Prime Reading borrowing earns them money).
I’m not really good at writing reviews so I won’t even try. But this book is very well written and about an important subject. I really recommend it.
Also, if you have Amazon Prime you can borrow this for free via Prime Reading. (Please do this instead of the reading and returning some people do on Kindle. The Kindle ‘borrowing’ costs the author money whereas the Prime Reading borrowing earns them money).
August 22, 2022
The Lost Girl in Paris gives the readers a view of gypsy girl living in France during WII.
The story follows a young girl trying to stay out of the view of Nazi officers in France.
February 27, 2022
Jina Bacarr’s The Lost Girl in Paris is a haunting, atmospheric and enthralling dual timeline novel readers will find hard to put down and impossible to forget.
In 1940s Paris, a veil of darkness has fallen over this beautiful city. With the Nazis ruthlessly patrolling the streets, Tiena is alone, terrified and on the run. When she defends herself against a cruel officer, Tiena’s safety is in jeopardy. With nowhere to turn, a chance meeting with members of the Resistance offers Tiena a lifeline to cling to. Reinventing herself as a perfumer, Tiena takes on a new identity and begins to live a brand new life – even if painful memories from the past still haunt and torment her. Determined to wreak her revenge over those who had wronged her, Tiena becomes obsessed with vengeance. But this all-consuming need for retribution will end up have serious consequences for her…
In 2003, journalist Emma Keane jumps at the chance to interview world-famous perfumer Angéline De Cadieux about her life during World War Two. Emma hopes that Angéline will provide her with answers to questions about her own family’s past and help her put old ghosts to rest. Is Emma prepared for the Pandora’s box she is about to open? And can Angéline solve a mystery that has haunted Emma’s family for decades?
Jina Bacarr’s The Lost Girl in Paris is a beautifully written tale about courage, resilience, love, war and hope that will hold readers in thrall from start to finish. Jina Bacarr grabs her readers’ attention from the very beginning and keeps them spellbound until the very last page.
With her impressive gift for characterization, wonderful ability for bringing the past to life and superb storytelling skills, Jina Bacarr’s The Lost Girl in Paris is a first rate dual timeline novel perfect for Lorna Cook and Catherine Hokin fans.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In 1940s Paris, a veil of darkness has fallen over this beautiful city. With the Nazis ruthlessly patrolling the streets, Tiena is alone, terrified and on the run. When she defends herself against a cruel officer, Tiena’s safety is in jeopardy. With nowhere to turn, a chance meeting with members of the Resistance offers Tiena a lifeline to cling to. Reinventing herself as a perfumer, Tiena takes on a new identity and begins to live a brand new life – even if painful memories from the past still haunt and torment her. Determined to wreak her revenge over those who had wronged her, Tiena becomes obsessed with vengeance. But this all-consuming need for retribution will end up have serious consequences for her…
In 2003, journalist Emma Keane jumps at the chance to interview world-famous perfumer Angéline De Cadieux about her life during World War Two. Emma hopes that Angéline will provide her with answers to questions about her own family’s past and help her put old ghosts to rest. Is Emma prepared for the Pandora’s box she is about to open? And can Angéline solve a mystery that has haunted Emma’s family for decades?
Jina Bacarr’s The Lost Girl in Paris is a beautifully written tale about courage, resilience, love, war and hope that will hold readers in thrall from start to finish. Jina Bacarr grabs her readers’ attention from the very beginning and keeps them spellbound until the very last page.
With her impressive gift for characterization, wonderful ability for bringing the past to life and superb storytelling skills, Jina Bacarr’s The Lost Girl in Paris is a first rate dual timeline novel perfect for Lorna Cook and Catherine Hokin fans.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 17, 2021
Vive Le Courage! This dual timeline book takes place during WWII and 2003 and told from two perspectives. This must be tricky to accomplish...when done well, as it is here, it is a beautiful thing. Courage, love, resilience, hope, sacrifice and the capacity of human beings (good and bad) are some of the themes.
Tiena is young Roma woman living in Nazi-occupied Paris. She witnesses unimaginable horror at the hands of a Nazi major and retaliates. As a result she flees and reinvents her life. Her mother taught her all about herbs and scents and Tiena became Madame de Cadieux, a "nose" at the House of Doujan, able to intuitively read perfume ingredients. I really enjoyed the descriptions in chapter headings! Such a lovely touch, a brilliant balance to the terror of Auschwitz and Dachau she experiences. The author does not gloss over the brutal details which are important to know and remember.
In 2003 journalist Emma flies from New York to Paris to interview Madame de Cadieux as she feels compelled to learn more about WWII, especially human interest stories. What she learns is heartbreaking and chilling but she persists and discovers far more than she could ever have imagined.
My favourite aspects of this marvelous book are the vivid multi-sensory descriptions, learning about perfumery, the Roma heart and soul and powerful experiences at concentration camps, goosebump inducing.
Historical Fiction readers ought to seek out this book. Do read the author's notes at the back. What she says about the smell of war is achingly profound, particularly when compared with perfume notes and their lasting impacts. The blue ribbon story...!
My sincere thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this gripping and incredibly detailed book.
Tiena is young Roma woman living in Nazi-occupied Paris. She witnesses unimaginable horror at the hands of a Nazi major and retaliates. As a result she flees and reinvents her life. Her mother taught her all about herbs and scents and Tiena became Madame de Cadieux, a "nose" at the House of Doujan, able to intuitively read perfume ingredients. I really enjoyed the descriptions in chapter headings! Such a lovely touch, a brilliant balance to the terror of Auschwitz and Dachau she experiences. The author does not gloss over the brutal details which are important to know and remember.
In 2003 journalist Emma flies from New York to Paris to interview Madame de Cadieux as she feels compelled to learn more about WWII, especially human interest stories. What she learns is heartbreaking and chilling but she persists and discovers far more than she could ever have imagined.
My favourite aspects of this marvelous book are the vivid multi-sensory descriptions, learning about perfumery, the Roma heart and soul and powerful experiences at concentration camps, goosebump inducing.
Historical Fiction readers ought to seek out this book. Do read the author's notes at the back. What she says about the smell of war is achingly profound, particularly when compared with perfume notes and their lasting impacts. The blue ribbon story...!
My sincere thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this gripping and incredibly detailed book.
December 27, 2021
1940s France: Tiena Cordoba is a Roma teenager whose life is fraught with danger after the murder of her mother by the Nazis and the extermination of her people is underway. She travels to Paris and gains a new identity but will she ever be safe...?
The Lost Girl In Paris is a dual timeline historical novel set in the 1940s and 2003. In the more modern time, Madame de Cadieux is being interviewed by a young reporter, Emma, who hopes to find a link to Dachau and her own family history.
The two timelines are equally well developed with a strong female lead who features in both. Tiena/Angeline is a brave woman, proud of her Romani heritage but has previously refused to discuss her past. Now she feels she owes it to her people to reveal the horrors suffered in the years of Nazi rule. There is also a love story as she meets Lance from the Resistance and we learn from the modern timeline that their love endured.
Meanwhile, Emma is determined to interview Angeline even though it takes her away from her own sick mother. She is easy to like and has a spiky relationship with Angeline's bodyguard which adds another dimension to the story. There are parallels between the two timelines which is interesting for the reader to compare and contrast.
Love and passion, a zest for life and an instinct for survival, identity and grief all feature prominently in the book. The final twist is hinted at all the way through but still made me smile. Nazi brutality is never shied away from: it is upsetting but compulsive reading as we must never forget the atrocities they committed or their victims' stories.
The Lost Girl In Paris is a vivid and emotional book about love and loss.
The Lost Girl In Paris is a dual timeline historical novel set in the 1940s and 2003. In the more modern time, Madame de Cadieux is being interviewed by a young reporter, Emma, who hopes to find a link to Dachau and her own family history.
The two timelines are equally well developed with a strong female lead who features in both. Tiena/Angeline is a brave woman, proud of her Romani heritage but has previously refused to discuss her past. Now she feels she owes it to her people to reveal the horrors suffered in the years of Nazi rule. There is also a love story as she meets Lance from the Resistance and we learn from the modern timeline that their love endured.
Meanwhile, Emma is determined to interview Angeline even though it takes her away from her own sick mother. She is easy to like and has a spiky relationship with Angeline's bodyguard which adds another dimension to the story. There are parallels between the two timelines which is interesting for the reader to compare and contrast.
Love and passion, a zest for life and an instinct for survival, identity and grief all feature prominently in the book. The final twist is hinted at all the way through but still made me smile. Nazi brutality is never shied away from: it is upsetting but compulsive reading as we must never forget the atrocities they committed or their victims' stories.
The Lost Girl In Paris is a vivid and emotional book about love and loss.
November 13, 2021
The Lost Girl In Paris by Jina Bacarr is a powerful dual timeline novel that will break your heart.
The story is set in 2003 and also during World War II in Europe. The chapters alternate between the two time periods as an octogenarian relates her wartime experiences. The reader witnesses the determination and bravery to survive.
Surviving the war naturally traumatizes a character who has kept silent for years but realizes now is the time to share her story in memory of those who died and in the hope that it never again happens.
Life in Ravensbruck, Auschwitz and Dachau was hell on earth but there were pockets of kindness which needed to be grabbed and memories held on to.
There were not just Jews in the camps but political prisoners and gypsies. The leading character is a French gypsy who refuses to deny her rich heritage.
An ever-growing bond forms between the lead characters as the older lady shares her story with a young American reporter.
The Lost Girl In Paris is an epic read that totally consumed me from the perfumery in Paris to the resistance to the hell on earth, the reader witnesses the strength taken to try to survive. We see the evil of the Nazis and the kindness of strangers.
The Lost Girl In Paris is a novel crying out to be read. Though a work of fiction, we must read it in memory of all the innocents who perished and all who survived. We must never forget.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The story is set in 2003 and also during World War II in Europe. The chapters alternate between the two time periods as an octogenarian relates her wartime experiences. The reader witnesses the determination and bravery to survive.
Surviving the war naturally traumatizes a character who has kept silent for years but realizes now is the time to share her story in memory of those who died and in the hope that it never again happens.
Life in Ravensbruck, Auschwitz and Dachau was hell on earth but there were pockets of kindness which needed to be grabbed and memories held on to.
There were not just Jews in the camps but political prisoners and gypsies. The leading character is a French gypsy who refuses to deny her rich heritage.
An ever-growing bond forms between the lead characters as the older lady shares her story with a young American reporter.
The Lost Girl In Paris is an epic read that totally consumed me from the perfumery in Paris to the resistance to the hell on earth, the reader witnesses the strength taken to try to survive. We see the evil of the Nazis and the kindness of strangers.
The Lost Girl In Paris is a novel crying out to be read. Though a work of fiction, we must read it in memory of all the innocents who perished and all who survived. We must never forget.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
December 7, 2021
This isn’t just a story of wartime France.
This isn’t just a story of a young woman coming of age.
This is a story of HOPE, of SURVIVAL, of how even the darkest of times WILL end, and GOODNESS, BEAUTY, and LOVE can still be found, if only we have the courage to look for it.
Emma and Angéline's story, for it is as much the one’s as it is the other’s, was so touching, so moving, you can’t help but be transported back and forth in time with them as they discover more about each other, as well as themselves. From the loss of Tiena to the emergence of Angéline, the horrors of Dachau to the House of Doujan, the lessened health of a loved one to discovering more than just a tenuous glimpse at your family history, the story’s titled Lost Girl wavers from one character to another throughout. I beg you to never believe for a moment though that they were ever TRULY lost because if you still live within one heart, it can never truly come to pass.
All in all, I can only say it took a travesty from our past, and managed to show how beauty, strength, courage, and love still could be found amongst it all. It was heartbreaking and heart-warming all the same time, and by book’s end, I found myself brought to tears, for everything they went through, all the hurdles, hardships, and sacrifices, but also the moments of grace captured so vividly; it’s a story that I won’t soon forget. A great read and recommendation for Historical Fiction fans as well as readers of Biographies and Memoirs.
**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own
This isn’t just a story of a young woman coming of age.
This is a story of HOPE, of SURVIVAL, of how even the darkest of times WILL end, and GOODNESS, BEAUTY, and LOVE can still be found, if only we have the courage to look for it.
Emma and Angéline's story, for it is as much the one’s as it is the other’s, was so touching, so moving, you can’t help but be transported back and forth in time with them as they discover more about each other, as well as themselves. From the loss of Tiena to the emergence of Angéline, the horrors of Dachau to the House of Doujan, the lessened health of a loved one to discovering more than just a tenuous glimpse at your family history, the story’s titled Lost Girl wavers from one character to another throughout. I beg you to never believe for a moment though that they were ever TRULY lost because if you still live within one heart, it can never truly come to pass.
All in all, I can only say it took a travesty from our past, and managed to show how beauty, strength, courage, and love still could be found amongst it all. It was heartbreaking and heart-warming all the same time, and by book’s end, I found myself brought to tears, for everything they went through, all the hurdles, hardships, and sacrifices, but also the moments of grace captured so vividly; it’s a story that I won’t soon forget. A great read and recommendation for Historical Fiction fans as well as readers of Biographies and Memoirs.
**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own
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